Arsenal show they mean business as they reject Manchester United’s offer for Thomas Vermaelen

There are reports around today that Arsenal have rejected a £15million bid from Manchester United for their captain Thomas Vermaelen. Instead, they have agreed to sell him to Barcelona for £10.3m [reports are claiming £15m in total after add-ons].

The news sends a massive signal from the club that they are no longer in the business of strengthening their rivals if they can help it. It also gives those Arsenal fans who believe that the club only care about making a profit a massive headache. How do you justify ‘losing’ £4m if all you care about is lining the pockets of the club?

As I discussed in my post earlier in the week, Arsenal refusing to sell to United, especially if they offered a higher sum than others, would make a real statement. In previous season every penny really did count for Arsenal but now that they have come through to a place where bigger commercial deals are finally coming to fruition they can afford to be choosy about where they allow their players to go.

Speaking on Thursday, Wenger confirmed that United had indeed made a bid for the Belgian but he stressed that the club would far rather sell him abroad.

Wenger said: ‘Vermaelen could leave us because he needs to play now,

‘We’re in a position where it’s difficult to stand in his way.

‘I think they [Manchester United] could be in the group. We have offers from abroad and ideally I would rather sell him to a club abroad.’

Of course, the player also has to agree to that, but Arsenal are now in a position where they can afford to force Vermaelen to see out his contract at the club on the bench should they so desire. They won’t, of course. Wenger is not a vindictive manager and would far rather free players to allow them to enjoy their careers, but they certainly do have that option now.

While it would not have been as horrendous as seeing Robin van Persie in a United shirt, I’d far rather see Vermaelen leave the country than turn out at Old Trafford.